Thanksgiving is the perfect time of year to teach children the virtue of gratitude. This adorable cardboard thankful turkey craft is simple enough for preschool and kindergarten students to complete with a bit of help or for older children to do on their own.
Materials Needed
One of the things I love most about this craft is that we already had everything we needed on hand! The supplies are simple:
- Template (see below)
- Cardboard (the inside of cereal or cracker boxes work well)
- Colored cardstock (red, orange, yellow, and green)
- Scissors
- Glue
- Googly eyes
- Colored cardstock
If you are doing this craft with a classroom full of students you may consider cutting out all the pieces beforehand so that the children just have to assemble the turkey with glue. However, if you are just doing this with a few kids it is wonderful fine motor practice for them to trace and cut all the pieces themselves.
Making a Cardboard Thankful Turkey Craft
The first and most important step is to download the free turkey template below. We printed it out on white cardstock so that it would be sturdy.
We cut each piece of the template out and set them aside.
I traced the body of the turkey onto cardboard and cut it out.
Using a bunch of fall-colored cardstock I traced the feathers onto the different colors.
We cut out the feathers and glued eight of them onto the back of each turkey body.
We traced the wattle, beak, and two feet onto colored cardstock and cut them each out.
Carefully, we glued the beak and wattle to the turkey’s face along with two googly eyes. Finally, we glued the two feet to the bottom of the back of the turkey so they looked like they were peeking out from underneath the fat turkey breast. The turkey was so cute!
I helped the younger kids write the names of people, objects, and ideas that they are thankful for on the turkey’s feathers. The older kids wrote their own words.
The kids were thrilled to take their cardboard thankful turkey craft home to show their family and friends. Not only is it a cute Thanksgiving craft, but it also provides such a lovely way for the children to discuss the good things in their lives with others.
Need more turkey resources?
Thanksgiving Books for Little Learners
You might also like Turkeys: An Animal Study!
Download your free Cardboard Thankful Turkey Craft template below!
Can you not find a resource that you would LOVE to have for your classroom? Contact me and I would be happy to make it for you.
Click the picture below to download.
I hope that you and your students enjoy this precious thankful turkey craft!
is there a way i can get a copy of the template for this? i clicked the link to get it but it says not found.
Hi Lindsey,
Thanks for reaching out! Check your email – I’ve sent you the craft.
Jennifer
Hi, I can’t find the template. When I click the link, it takes me to a website that says the link is no longer available.
Hi Julia,
I’m so sorry you’re having trouble! I’ve sent the Thankful Turkey directly to your email 🙂